Rigid display container



Oct. 29,

Filed Jan H. ROSENTHAL 3,108,686

RIGID DISPLAY CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

INVENTOR 29 Harry Rosenrhal ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1963 H. ROSENTHAL RIGID DISPLAY CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1963 FIG. 8.

INVENT OR Harry Rosemhal United States Patent sncasss REGID DISPLAY (IONTAINER Harry Rosenthal, 304 Lake Circle, Portsmouth, Va. Filed Ian. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 250,816 Claims. (Cl. 206-4534) The present invention relates to containers and more particularly to display containers of the type wherein articles are visible yet protected against mutilation and exposure.

According to the present invention there is provided a display container which is of sturdy, essentially rigid, yet Very simple construction. The container of the invention is constructed of paperboard, cardboard or corrigated paperboard which is formed from a blank having flaps and folds so located that, when folded in accordance with a predetermined recipe, and when there is introduced into the folded wire cross braces, there is produced a sturdy, rigid container having open portions for display. For environmental protection, the open portions may be enveloped by a thin film of any suitable transparent material.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a display container sufiicien-tly sturdy for secondary use as a product-enhancing shipping container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an easily assembled display container of economical and simple construction.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a display container the enclosing body portions of which may be formed from an essentially rectangular flat having a two-degree symmetrical array of folds, flaps, tabs and cut-outs disposed in a predetermined manner.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a hat for forming the container of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of the container when partly assembled; and

FIGURES 3-7 are views in detail of corners of the container incorporating the wire braces in various stages of assembly; and

FIGURE 8 is a view in perspective of a container according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference numerals are used to represent like parts, a generally rectangular blank 11 of relatively stiff material such as paperboard, cardboard, corrigated paperboard or the like is shown formed into an array of creases, flaps, apertures and tabs. It is to be understood that the array is symmetrical about its longitudinal and transverse axes so that elements of one respective side are identical to those of the corresponding opposing side.

The blank 11 has a central base portion 12 and includes a pair of transverse foldlines or creases 13 made in the rectangular blank 11 to define the longer or longitudinal base dimension of the container and the extent of its two opposing walls 15. The shorter or transverse dimension of the container is determined by parallel longitudinal foldlines or creases 17. The location of the foldlines 17 also determines the lateral extent of parallel opposing partial walls 19.

The portions of the creases 13 extending outwardly of the longitudinal creases .17 are cut out so that the walls 15 and 19 may be brought together in a boxlike manner.

Each of the opposing transverse walls 15 has inner and outer creases 23 and 25 respectively extending parallel with the shorter or transverse dimension of the container. The portions of the crease -25 outward of lines 17 are cut out so that a pair of crosswise folding flaps 27 and 28 respectively are formed. At the opposing extremities of 3,1081%6 Patented Oct. 29, 1963 "ice the flaps 27 and 29 wire brace-holding tabs 29 and 30 respectively are thus formed, the holding tab 30 being somewhat shorter.

A foldline or crease 31 spaced outwardly from and parallel to the lines 17 is made between creases 13 and 23. The portions of the crease 26 outward of the lines 17 is cut out so that a pair of folding inner and outer upright flaps 33 and 35 respectively are formed. A portion of the each of the flaps 33 along the creases 23 outwardly of foldlines 17 is cut out, the cut-out portion along the flap 35 being somewhat wider as shown. These cut-out portions further define the dimensions of the holding tabs 29 and 39.

A small transverse tab 37 for securing purposes may be provided outwardly of, and integral with each of the outer flaps 29'. A central aperture 39 is cut into the crease 23 to an extent that the tab 37 may be inserted snugly thereinto.

A longitudinal flap 41 integral with each of the sides 19 is foldably connected therewith along a crease 43. The length of the flap 41 is slightly less than that of the partial longitudinal Walls 19.

Small securing tabs '45 are also provided for each of the outer flaps 35. The tabs fit snugly into central apertures 47, out along the foldlines 17 between lines 13 and 23.

A pair of identical wire rods or braces 49 and 51 respectively are provided for rigidly supporting the opposing walls in spaced relationship from each other in the assembly of the container 11.

The steps of assembling the container will now be described in conjunction with all of the figures. In FIGURE 2., the fold or crease lines are indicated by the dashed lines generally in the lower part of the figure, the upper part of FIGURE 2 showing one end of the container assembled.-

The first step is the folding of each wire brace-holding tab 39 backwardly (i.e. into the paper) and the folding of each of the holding tabs 29 forwardly (i.e. upwardly from the paper). The outer flap 213 is then folded along the crease to overlie the inner flap 27. Thus, the holding tabs 29 and 36* are resultantly arranged for folding movement in the same direction as shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4.

Next as best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, the overlying flaps 2'7 and 2 8 are, as a unit, folded along the crease 23 so that the flaps 27 and 2 8 occupy a plane perpendicular to the flaps 29 and 3d and perpendicular to the wall 15. In this position the wire brace-holding tabs 29 and 36 lie approximately parallel to the creases 17.

The hooked wire braces 49 and 51 are respectively inserted to pass at their ends in a self-locking manner between the holding tabs 29 and 3-1)- so that the curved portion of the hook lockingly bears against the tab 30. As shown in FIGURE 5, the terminus of each wire brace is thus positioned inwardly of the tab and the flap 28 the straight portion near the curved end of the brace resting between the tabs 29 and 30.

The respective flaps 27 and 28 are further held it place by inserting the respective securing tabs 37 anc the apertures 39.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the outer longitudinal flap is folded along the crease 31 over both of the holding tabs 29 and 30, thereby further securing the tabs 29 and 30. The securing tab 45 is snugly fitted into the aperture 47 thus locking the flaps 35 and 33 in place. Ir that the flap 33 is cut-off along the crease 23, a smali hole 53 is formed around each of the braces 4% and 51 The increased cut-oil portion of the flap 35 along the crease 23 provides egress for the terminus of the hookec' portion of each of the braces as shown in FIGURE 7.

The final step in assembling the container is the passing of each of the longitudinal flaps 41 over both the flaps 33 and 35, the partial walls 19 thus enclosing a portion of the space within the container. The flaps 41 resultantly occupy a plane parallel to the flat and thus contribute to the rigid support of the overlying flaps 3S and 33. It is understood that the partial walls 19 may be omitted with corresponding but not fatal loss of rigidity to the container.

In the foregoing described manner there is thus assembled a container as shown in FIGURE 8. The container is shown standing on one of its walls however, if desired, the container may be disposed in any position to display articles placed within its confines.

After placing the articles in the container, a transparent film of any suitable material may be placed over the open portions of the container to protect the articles against moisture and exposure.

It is appreciated that there is thus provided a container versatile in its utilization either as a sturdy display container or as a product-enhancing shipping container, or both.

The unique arrangement of the self-locking coaction among the braces 49 and 51, the holding tabs 29, 39 and the cooperating supporting action of the flaps 27, 28, 33 and 35 provides overall stiffness and rigidity for the container while requiring only a minimum in production costs and assembly time. For example, the fiat from which the body of the container is formed may be made in a single stamping operation, and the identical wire braces such as braces 49, 51, made in another single wire forming process.

It is further appreciated that bonding, Welding or similar external agents are not necessary for the assembly of the container.

The invention has been described herein more or less precisely as to details; however it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby as changes may be made in the form, arrangement and preparation of parts, and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display container the enclosing body portions of which are formed from an essentially rectangular blank having a symmetrical array of folds, flaps, cut-outs and tabs disposed therein in a predetermined manner, comprising; a pair of symmetrical identical longitudinally disposed end portions of said flat; each of said end portions comprising an outer transverse flap, an inner transverse flap foldably connected to said outer flap, a wall portion foldably connected to said inner flap, and a base portion foldably connected at opposing ends to each Wall portion; each of said inner and outer flaps having opposing transverse brace-holding tabs foldably connected thereto, and longitudinally separated from each other by transverse cut-out portions; each of said wall portions having a longitudinally oriented outer and inner flaps foldably interconnected each of said inner flaps being foldably connected to each said wall portion; means for securing said outer flaps and said longitudinally oriented outer flaps to said respective wall portions; the array of said flat when folded forming wall portions perpendicular to said base portion, and said foldably interconnected flaps when folded overlying each other in planes perpendicular to each of said respective walls, and said brace holding tabs when folded forming, inside said respective adjacent transversely oriented inner and outer flaps bearing surfaces for hooked ends of a rigid brace so that when a brace is passed therebetween and terminally around each inner 4 holding tab of correspondingly opposing tabs of said respective opposing wall portions, an essentially rigid article-holding container-frame is formed.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 but said blank further characterized by a longitudinal crease in said base portion coextensive with the crease between said respective wall portions and said longitudinally oriented inner flaps, whereby longitudinal wall portions are defined, a further longitudinal crease in each of said longitudinal wall portions thereby defining an outer foldable flap, the ends of said further crease being cut-out for a fit thereof surrounding said longitudinally oriented flaps when folded.

3. A display container having three adjacent essentially open sides and three adjacent sides essentially closed by a material of the characteristics of paperboard or the like, comprising; a base portion; opposing wall portions each foldably connected to opposing ends of said base portion, respective transverse flap means located at the end of each of said wall portions for forming wire brace-holding surfaces when said flap means are folded to be resultantly perpendicular to said respective wall portions; further flap means integral with each of said wall portions and foldably disposed on said wall portions at right angles to said transverse flap means for engagingly folding over said folded transverse flap means; each of said transverse flap means comprising parallel inner and outer laterally extending flaps foldable to overlie one another in a plane perpendicular to each of said respective wall portions, each of said flaps having at each end a separately and independently foldable outer braceholding tab; each of said brace-holding tabs being foldable to overlie one another when said flaps are folded to form parallel surfaces perpendicular to said folded inner and outer flaps and perpendicular to said wall portion, the hooked portion of each of said braces then passing around the resulting inner tab; a thin film of transparent material enveloping the open portions of said container and a wire brace connecting each opposing open corner of said opposing wall portions, said wire brace comprising at each end a hooked portion for insertion around and in engagement with at least one flap of said transverse flap means in each corner, whereby said opposing wall portions are held in rigid spaced relationship from each other by said wire braces to form a container having an essentially open side adjacent to each of said wire braces.

4. The container according to claim 3 but further characterized by said further flap means comprising, outer and inner flaps foldably connected to each other, the inner flap being connected to the vertical side of each wall when upright, said outer and inner flaps being folded over said tabs to further secure said braces.

5. The container as defined according to claim 3 but further characterized by fiap portions located outwardly of the other pair of opposing sides of said base and foldable to form a partial wall attached at its opposing ends to each of said further flap means of said opposing wall portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,183 Weltmer May 30, 1939 2,261,726 Jonas et al Nov. 4, 1941 2,605,895 Reynolds Aug. 5, 1952 2,640,643 Frankenstein June 2, 1953 3,003,676 De Nola Oct. 10, 1961 3,034,697 Frankenstein May 15, 1962 

3. A DISPLAY CONTAINER HAVING THREE ADJACENT ESSENTIALLY OPEN SIDES AND THREE ADJACENT SIDES ESSENTIALLY CLOSED BY A MATERIAL OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PAPERBOARD OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING; A BASE PORTION; OPPOSING WALL PORTIONS EACH FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO OPPOSING ENDS OF SAID BASE PORTION, RESPECTIVE TRANSVERSE FLAP MEANS LOCATED AT THE END OF EACH OF SAID WALL PORTIONS FOR FORMING WIRE BRACE-HOLDING SURACES WHEN SAID FLAP MEANS ARE FOLDED TO BE RESULTANTLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID RESPECTIVE WALL PORTIONS; FURTHER FLAP MEANS INTEGRAL WITH EACH OF SAID WALL PORTIONS AND FOLDABLY DISPOSED ON SAID WALL PORTIONS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID TRANSVERSE FLAP MEANS FOR ENGAGINGLY FOLDING OVER SAID FOLDED TRANSVERSE FLAP MEANS; EACH OF SAID TRANSVERSE FLAP MEANS COMPRISING PARALLEL INNER AND OUTER LATERALLY EXTENDING FLAPS FOLDABLE TO OVERLIE ONE ANOTHER IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OF SAID RESPECTIVE WALL PORTIONS, EACH OF SAID FLAPS HAVING AT EACH END A SEPARATELY AND INDEPENDENTLY FOLDABLE OUTER BRACEHOLDING TAB; EACH OF SAID BRACE-HOLDING TABS BEING FOLDABLE TO OVERLIE ONE ANOTHER WHEN SAID FLAPS ARE FOLDED TO FORM PARALLEL SURFACES PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FOLDED INNER AND OUTER FLAPS AND PERPENDICULAR TO SAID WALL PORTION, THE HOOKED PORTION OF EACH OF SAID BRACES THEN PASSING AROUND THE RESULTING INNER TAB; A THIN FILM OF TRANS; PARENT MATERIAL ENVELOPING THE OPEN PORTIONS OF SAID CONTAINER AND A WIER BRACE CONNECTING EACH OPPOSING OPEN CORNER OF SAID OPPOSING WALL PORTIONS, SAID WIRE BRACE COMPRISING AT EACH END A HOOKED PORTION FOR INSERTION AROUND AND IN ENGAGEMENT WITH AT LEAST ONE FLAP OF SAID TRANSVERSE FLAP MEANS IN EACH CORNER, WHEREBY SAID OPPOSING WALL PORTIONS ARE HELD IN RIGID SPACED RELATIONSHIP FROM EACH OTHER BY SAID WIRE BRACES TO FORM A CONTAINER HAVING AN ESSENTIALLY OPEN SIDE ADJACENT TO EACH OF SAID BRACES. 